ASUU Accuses Federal Government Of Selective Implementation Of 2025 Deal

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised a fresh alarm over what it described as distorted and selective implementation of the 2025 agreement reached with the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The union stated this following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State.

In statement statement made available to the press on Monday, ASUU president, Prof Chris Piwuna, said the union’s prolonged silence since the signing and public presentation of the December 2025 agreement had been deliberately maintained to allow government to demonstrate commitment to full implementation.

“ASUU leaders at the MAU-NEC meeting frowned seriously at the distorted/non-implementation of the December 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement by the Federal and State governments.

“They equally noted with concern governments reluctance to amicably resolve the lingering issues of the withheld three-and-half months’ salaries, promotion arrears, shortfalls in salaries arising from the use of the IPPIS platform, unremitted third-party deductions, and arrears of 25-35 per cent wage award.

“Our union’s doors remain open for working with government to realise all our demands. At the same time, NEC directs that emergency meeting of NEC to be called in the next few weeks to review the situation and take appropriate action as may be necessary,” Piwuna added.

According to the union, different layers of government implementation have been inconsistent, with federal and state authorities allegedly applying the agreement in fragmented ways.

It accused some university administrators of selectively implementing components such as allowances, while failing to integrate agreed salary structures into the mainstream Consolidated University Academic Salary framework as intended.

It further noted that while a few state governments had shown commitment to implementation, several others had turned their backs on the agreement, despite the involvement of their representatives in the negotiation process.

On staff welfare, the union expressed frustration over the unresolved backlog of entitlements affecting university lecturers across the country. These include arrears of salary awards, promotion arrears, withheld salaries from previous industrial actions, and unremitted third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and pension remittances.

The union said the continued delay in addressing these issues was worsening morale within the university system and undermining academic productivity.

It also criticised the continued application of the “no work, no pay” principle in relation to past industrial actions, describing it as punitive and insensitive, especially given that academic duties such as research and community service often continue even during strike periods.

On governance within universities, ASUU expressed concern over the increasing irregular appointments, lack of transparency in financial management, and the introduction of questionable academic titles outside established university structures.